Sheep!

Facts about Sheep

 Female is called a Ewe
 A male that is still intact is called a Ram
 A castrated male is called a Wether
 A baby is called a lamb
 Sheep Numbers
 Heat Period last 1-3 Days
 Heat Cycle happens every 13-19 Days
 Gestation Period is 145 Days
 Ideal Market Weight is 120 to 150 lbs.
 Average days to Market 6 to 8 Months
 Classification
 Two Types of Classification
 Wool Breeds
 Hair Breeds

 Wool Breeds
 FineWool
 Medium Wool
 Long Wool
 Fine Wool Breed
 There are 2 main fine wool breeds
 Rambouillet
 American Merino

 A high percentage of Range sheep are fine

wool sheep.
 Rambouillet

 White
 France
 Half of the sheep in the U.S.A have
Rambouillet blood in them
 Dual Purpose Breed
 Merino

 White
 Originated in Spain
 Able to do well on poor quality ground
 Medium Wool Breeds
 There are 9 main breeds in the medium
wool sheep.
 Cheviot
 Dorset
 Hampshire
 Montadale
 Oxford
 Shropshire
 Southdown
 Suffolk
 Tunis
 Cheviot

 White with black nostrils

 Originated in England
 Have great mothering ability
 Dorset

 White
 Originated in England
 Ewes are very good mothers
 Hampshire

 Black face, ears, and nose

 Originated in England
 Extremely heavy muscled
 Most popular of the medium wool breeds
 Montadale

 White
 Originated in the U.S.A.
 Known as a dual-purpose breed
 Oxford

 Black, Dark Brown or Grey

 Originated in England
 Wool extends over poll down to eyes
 Known for their Large Frame
 Shropshire

 Face and legs dark colored

 Originated in England
 Wool on face
 Great Carcasses
 Southdown

 White or Grey
 Face, ears and legs are gray or mouse brown
 Originated in England
 Very Quick Maturing
 Tend to become overfat at an early age
 Suffolk

 Black face, ears, and legs

 Originated in England
 Most popular Black faced breed in U.S.A.
 Tunis

 Face is reddish brown to bright tan

 Originated in North Africa
 Highly disease resistant
 Long Wool Breeds
 There are 3 main long wool breeds
 Cotswold
 Lincoln
 Romney
 Cotswold

 White
 Can also be grayish white
 Tuft of wool on forehead

 Originated in England
 Large Framed
 Lincoln

 White
 Originated in England
 Largest Framed sheep
 Used mainly for crossbreeding
 Romney

 White
 Originated in England
 Dual-Purpose Breed
 Better adapted to wet, marshy areas
 Crossbred Wool Breeds
 There are two main types of crossbred
wool breeds
 Columbia
 Corriedale
 Columbia

 White
 Originated in the U.S.A.
 Very Adaptable
 Corriedale

 White
 Originated in Australia
 Cross between Leicester rams & Merino ewes
 Dual-Purpose
 Great Carcass
 Hair Sheep
 There are two main types of hair sheep.
 Katahdin
 Dorper
 Katahdin

 White to cream or red

 Originated in the Virgin Islands
 Very Docile
 Dorper

 White or White with black head

 Originated in South Africa
 Grows quickly and heavy muscled
 Polypay

 White
 Originated in the U.S.A.
 Multiple Births
 Top 5 Sheep States
1. Texas
2. California
3. Wyoming
4. Colorado
5. South Dakota